My Silly Homage to Spring – Poetry for a Monday Afternoon

I love these flowers with their quirky unfolding and only one night of fragrant bloom, but their hard seed coat make them a bear to get started.  

I scrape, I cut, I stab at your shield
Hoping for just one point where you will yield
I then will drown you for an entire day
In hopes of reaching that heart you keep at bay
I then will bury you because it’s what you need
To take root and grow, my moonflower seed

 © 3/20/2023 Lauren Swartzmiller  

Happy Spring, Everyone.

Countdown to Spring – Welcome Aboard the Vernal Equinox

So much as it doesn't feel like it, spring arrived shortly after 12 noon my time.  It's cloudy and windy and feels chilly and raw.  Not very springlike. 

Did I mention we're looking at another Nor'easter?  No?  Well, that's because I'm in denial.  It's spring, after all.  Shouldn't its arrival have put a end to that nonsense?  This one could go several ways for my area.  I'd rather it just go away.

I took a walk up the street and saw crocuses in full bloom.  Now, I know this patch of flowers because I planted them myself many years ago and they've naturalized into a very nice two-foot circle of purple, yellow, cream and white crocuses, in that order.  I saw the dark purple ones today.  In a couple of days, the yellow, cream and light purple ones will open up.  The white ones are always last, opening as the first ones are fading.  I look forward to their arrival.  They have been my proof for over two decades that winter really is leaving.

Still looking for the elusive flock of robins I keep hearing about.  I see birds of the right size, but when I get closer, I realize it's starlings.  Eventually, I'll see one robin, then more.  Of course, it might not be until after April starts, the way things are going.

Then, there are the turkey vultures.  Just as the swallows return to Capistrano in California and the buzzards return to Hinckley in Ohio, the turkey vultures return to roost along the Rondout Creek waterfront of Kingston in New York.  Yeah, they're not the prettiest birdies, but they serve a purpose, and at least they show up.  You hearing me, robins?

And so, we've survived another winter, one that's not ready to exit quickly and quietly.  But exit it will, and we can get on with enjoying warmer, longer days and all the activities that go to the wayside during the winter months.  Get out there and enjoy.

Happy spring, everyone.

Countdown to Spring - The Final Entry

Well, much as I don't think the snow got the memo, it is officially Spring.  It came in at 6:29 AM EDT.  I stood at my front door staring out at the developing light of dawn on the horizon and wished the world a happy spring as the seasons changed.

While parts of the country won't see the green grass, flower beds and gardens for a while yet, rest assured, they're all still under there just biding their time.  Of course, if you're impatient like me, you'll go dig 'em out.

So once more, this countdown series comes to an end.  I'd like to thank those who follow this blog, if only during this time.  I hope it made you smile, even if you thought it was silly.

Now, get out there, Folks, and enjoy this season.  Defy winter's defiance in leaving if it's persistent.  The reawakening of life has begun again, including within ourselves.  Don't waste it.

Spring has sprung.

Countdown to Spring: Friday the 13th and Who Cares?

For those with triskaidekaphobia, which is the fear of Friday and the 13th in combination in a given month, get over it.  Seriously.  How often has anything bad happened to you on the day that makes it so traumatically memorable to be feared in perpetuity?  Chances are better that the answer is never.

Snow and ice are melting and life which had been dormant or hibernating is returning for you to enjoy.  Birds are singing spring notes.  We're starting to see migrating birds return as well, although I haven't spotted my first robin yet.  The days are warmer, the sun is brighter.  Winter is still here, but will be officially gone in a week.

Don't waste time being afraid of this day and number together.  Embrace it.  Let spring fever, rather than fear, rule your day.

Only 7 more days until spring.

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Countdown to Spring: And So It Begins …

Last year, I posted every day to my personal Google page from Ground Hog’s Day to the first day of spring.  This year, I will be posting here instead.  So, if there be any followers of this blog who don’t want to read my banal words lamenting winter weather and the lack of spring day after day after day, ignore all posts starting with “Countdown to Spring” until after March 20, or 20 March for some readers who know who they are.  Most entries will be mercifully shorter than today’s post.

It’s presently snowing in the Mid-Hudson Valley of New York and we have about 10” from a storm that only started about midnight last night.  It may be  revenge by the sky bears  for my laughing at the snowstorm that wasn’t last week, when they were predicting 18” or more and we only got 4”.  By the way, if you need the sky bear reference explained, you’ve lived in a snow-free location your entire life.  Anyway, they are predicting an inch of snow an hour until sometime after noon today.  When after the noontime hour ‘sometime’ occurs is anyone’s guess.

Speaking of predictions, down in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, the resident ground hog (also referred to as woodchuck, whistling pig, and that little ?##*%! that ate my garden), lovingly referred to as Phil, saw his shadow at the appointed hour this morning.  They were fortunate that the storm took a different course and they weren’t standing in the middle of a foot high snowbank when feisty Phil did his winter forecast thing.  Anyway, for those unfamiliar with the Ground Hog’s Day tradition, when the ground hog sees his shadow, it means six more weeks of winter.  Well, duh! and *sigh*.  Much as it doesn't really make a difference, I really prefer it when he doesn't see his shadow, as that means the vernal equinox is just around the corner.  However, that corner is still six weeks away.

Only 46 days until spring.

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